Theatre of Magic - Some Success, Some Not

[pistolpete78]

Got my new insert decals for the Tom yesterday, so set myself to deal with a few things which have been bugging me.  Replaced the Spirit Rings insert decal, some before and after shots below.  I noticed the new decal does not have a "frosted" look like the one it replaced, and was a bit concerned.  Checked IPDB and the pics there looked to match the new decal I got also.  The thickness and font of the text matches very well to what was there with this decal, although some of the others (which I don't need to use anyway) are a bit different - mainly in the thickness of the circles/borders around letters.

A few pics..

1.  The before.

2.  The after.

3.  What I could salvage of the original decal against the new one.

4.  New one installed with the old one overlayed as a comparison.


There was some pretty bad scratching on the insert, so gave it a scrub with some Novus 3, and got most of it.  Still a bit there which you can see in the pics.

Overall fairly happy with the result, but may look at it again one day - not completely satisfied.

[pistolpete78]

There's still a bit of wear at the right of the insert, which I'll touch up and get a pack from RTBB with the kick out mylar protector to put where the trap door kicks the ball out.  A slight wear near the trap door as well (see pic).

I have 2 things which I couldn't sort out this morning.

1.  A GI bulb under the left sling is out (string 4).  Changed the bulb and was surprised (or maybe not realistically) that this didn't fix it.  Checked bulb in another socket to be sure it works - yep.  Lights on either side of this one in the string are working and continuity tests between them are ok.  Fuse is ok.  A seating problem?  Have removed, reseated the bulb a heap of times?  Any ideas where else I could check guys?  Not a major problem, just niggles me.

2.  The flipper bats seem to be slightly out of alignment to me.  Anyone esle agree (see pic)?  If so, how o you fix that up, or is it not worth it given it's only minor? 

[Strangeways]

sounds like you may have a faulty lamp socket. GI on the slings are usually "daisy chained", so unless there is a loose wire - the lamp socket is at fault - which is strange for a machine of this vintage.

Flipper does need alignment. You will need a 3/8 socket to loosen the nut - just enough to move the flipper into the correct position. Once you are happy with the adjustment - tighten the nut and you should be ready to go !

[pistolpete78]

Thanks Nino - problem solved.  Tried wiggling the tabs under the socket and the connection came good.  Have realligned the flippers as well, ready to have a bash now.  Will probably struggle due to the new flipper setup (that's my excuse anyway)

Also had the wire ramps off yesterday and gave them a good polish with Brasso.  The yellow rag finished up half black, but the ramps look much nicer.

[indazone gav]

Good job with the decals, looks great. Try using a purple flasher in the basement :)

[pistolpete78]

Thanks Gav, I should have raised the insert a little before putting the new decal on.  Live and learn - I'll probably come back to it soon.

I'm looking at LED/lighting options at the moment.  Thanks for the basement suggestion!

As it turns out after allinging the flippers, the one whch was good before not "slides" down during a game and ends up touching the wire guide.  I've tightened the nut as tight as it will go without breaking it.  Would some loctite work to hold the shaft in place?

[Strangeways]

Thanks Gav, I should have raised the insert a little before putting the new decal on.  Live and learn - I'll probably come back to it soon.

I'm looking at LED/lighting options at the moment.  Thanks for the basement suggestion!

As it turns out after allinging the flippers, the one whch was good before not "slides" down during a game and ends up touching the wire guide.  I've tightened the nut as tight as it will go without breaking it.  Would some loctite work to hold the shaft in place?

Thats strange - tightening the 3/8 nut should be enough ? Maybe there is no "meat" left on the flipper shaft ? I use a ratchet and tighten as far as I can go until the clamp tips almost ouch each other.

[pistolpete78]

Yeah, went down the retightening road a couple of times yesterday, and have just given it another go.  Can't play again until tomorrow night though for fear of waking the kids

Will see how it goes then.  I was afraid of overtightening and breaking something, but have really given it a working over tonight.

[ajlaird]

Can't play again until tomorrow night though for fear of waking the kids

There's a volume control for that. Or is it the mechanical sounds causing the noise?

[pistolpete78]

Noise in general mate - the pins aren't far from the kids rooms at the moment.  If they heard any indication I was playing they'd be up and I'd struggle to get them back to bed.  Rather not take the chance.

Wife was out for dinner, kids were in bed, man heaven!  Best not mess with it.

[ajlaird]

Noise in general mate - the pins aren't far from the kids rooms at the moment.  If they heard any indication I was playing they'd be up and I'd struggle to get them back to bed.  Rather not take the chance.

Wife was out for dinner, kids were in bed, man heaven!  Best not mess with it.

Wife was out for dinner, kids were in bed, man was out in shed playing pinball - now that's man heaven!

[pistolpete78]

Yep, but as close as I can get for now   At least I was working on/thinking about pinball